Ok, we have the best/longest movie fight scenes, but what was the single best punch (or kick, or throw, I suppose) you’ve seen in the movies and what made it the best?
My vote:
The first time Bruce Lee hits Ohara in Enter the Dragon. They are in their stances, they put their hands up until the backs are touching, then
BAM
Bruce nails Ohara like a bullet train on smack. Man! It’s still unbelievable after all these years.
Has to be Mungo (Alex Karras) punching the horse in Blazing Saddles - done. End of Story.
Oooops - forgot to state why. Why? Because it was too damn funny, that’s why! Also, it was a shock (which is in part what made it funny, right?), looked reasonably realistic (the horse just dropped), and because when I saw the thread title, it was the first punch that came to mind, in a flash.
How’s that?
When Marion pops Indy in “Raiders of the Lost Ark”. I never realized that when you punch someone it creates a sonic boom.
Note to self: Bring earplugs to next barfight
George McFly knocking out Biff in Back to the Future. I’ve always loved scenes of wimps pushed past their limit and cutting loose.
Raging Bull. You know the one I mean.
Dr. J
Clint Eastwood slugging Jessica Walter at the end of Play Misty For Me. One punch knocks her across the room, through the glass door, and over the ocean front balcony to her death on the rocks below. I’m surprised she didn’t keep flying and hit a passing cruise ship. Up to that point the film was an effective thriller, but that resolution was unintentionally hilarious.
I haven’t even seen Blazing Saddles and that’s the first punch I thought of.
I’d call that memorable 
The one in Snatch that sends Brad Pitt flying backward horizontally. In slo-mo.
I love that scene.
And it was Mongo, not Mungo, in Bazing Saddles, right?
Some of the shots in the Neo vs. Agent fight in the subway are the ones that stand out.
-me
Conan, in a drunken stupor, punching out a camel in Conan the Barbarian. It’s not the punch that’s so funny, but the reaction of the bystanders - they just stand there and stare at him as if…well, as if he was some drunk fool who punched a camel out.
Dunno of this scene was in any way inspired by Mongo in Blazing Saddles…
I always kinda liked the scene in Bloodsport when the guy is doing all these menacing hand gestures to Jean-Claude (like the slit-your-throat gesture) and then as soon as the fight starts Jean-Claude round kicks him immediately.
Another favorite was in Raising Arizona after H.I. punches his boss, and then it shows him on the ground about 50 feet away…
Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Judge Doom punches Eddie Valens with a cartoon anvil-fist. Hands-down.
Mongo vs. the horse was the the first one to mind for me too.
Cher vs. Nicholas Cage in Moonstruck. “Snap outta it!” Shock, humor, and love all in one slap.
Some of Sonny Chiba’s shots in The Streetfighter always stand out to me. But mostly for the over-the-top looks on his face. :eek:
In the 1972 movie Pocket Money, Paul Newman slaps a horse after it bucks him off. He then apologizes to it. Later, Lee Marvin punches one between the eyes to soften him up before Newman rides it. I’m not into animal cruelty, just thought it was worth mentioning.
Got to agree with Mongo vs. the Horse. But when I saw the thread title, the first one I thought of was from “Sons of Katie Elder”. George Kennedy is drowning some guy in a rain-barrel full of water. John Wayne walks up, grabs a nearby axe handle, and yells “Hey!” When George looks up, The Duke SMACKS him in the face, full force, with the end of the axe handle! George goes spinning. It was both hilarious and violent at the same time. Okay, so it wasn’t really a “punch” but I still nominate it…TRM
“Mongo like Sheriff.”
Well, Fight Club is just one long string of suggestions for this list.
Brad Pitt taking one on the chin in Snatch was the first one I thought of when I saw the thread.
But ultimatly, I’m going to go back to the double-fisted round-house Paul Newman uses to win the “knife-fight” at the beginning of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Gary Cooper knocking down three of the bad guys with one punch in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town.
The scene in Dirty work where the opera workers all eat the experimental Brownies and they are all watching a boxing match between Kenny Norton and Gary Coleman…the match starts and Coleman get dropped…its sooo funny!!!
“What you talking bout satan?”
Waco Kid: Uh-oh, Bart. I think Mongo here’s taken a liking to you.
Mongo: Huh-huh, naw, Mongo straight!
Don’t remember which of his many movies it was, but John Wayne says, “I’m not gonna hit you, I’m not gonna hit you…the hell I’m not!” and then hauls off and punches someone.